E34 M5 Suspension
Discussion
Yes, that thorny issue of paying daft notes for some unreliable shocks. However, I was a bit surprised to find the shock have gone up £300 in 3 years - that borders on immoral! So does anyone have experience of fitting the 3.8 car with non-EDC shocks? My previous LE on its EDC's was the only car not to make the wife feel sick, so I'd like to get a more reliable set up without destroying the ride. Tried a Dinan kitted car, quite harsh.....
This chap on the M5 Board replaced his EDC shocks with the sport suspension from the 540i. A point worth remembering is the 3.8 will only accept an EDC damper as standard, you need to modify the suspension mounts/hubs etc to fit non-EDC dampers. It is by no means an easy job that can be done on a Saturday afternoon, you really need to know what you're doing to avoid doing even more damage when replacing them.
The other option, also from the M5 Board, is this thread where they are rebuilding the EDC dampers. Still awaiting final cost prices, but a rough estimate would be between 1/2-2/3 the cost of brand new dampers from BMW.
Either option is preferable to buying the damn things from the main stealer at £2k for the dampers alone, but it's still expensive. The EDC system when it's working is excellent, it's just when it goes wrong it brings a whole new world of pain to your wallet. If you were to go down the route of stripping the EDC out of the car, there's plenty of options available going from wallet wilting expensive to remortgage your home expensive. Upside is once it's done, you can change the suspension to just about anything you like.
My prefered option (and the one i will be taking next month hopefully) is either brand new replacement dampers, or rebuilt ones to a higher spec than when they are new. Not a cheap option, but i like the system and would prefer to keep the car resonably standard.
Those are pretty much your options, much searching of the M5 Board will produce countless threads on this subject, with lots of differing views. But, at the end of the day, it's your cash and your decision!
The other option, also from the M5 Board, is this thread where they are rebuilding the EDC dampers. Still awaiting final cost prices, but a rough estimate would be between 1/2-2/3 the cost of brand new dampers from BMW.
Either option is preferable to buying the damn things from the main stealer at £2k for the dampers alone, but it's still expensive. The EDC system when it's working is excellent, it's just when it goes wrong it brings a whole new world of pain to your wallet. If you were to go down the route of stripping the EDC out of the car, there's plenty of options available going from wallet wilting expensive to remortgage your home expensive. Upside is once it's done, you can change the suspension to just about anything you like.
My prefered option (and the one i will be taking next month hopefully) is either brand new replacement dampers, or rebuilt ones to a higher spec than when they are new. Not a cheap option, but i like the system and would prefer to keep the car resonably standard.
Those are pretty much your options, much searching of the M5 Board will produce countless threads on this subject, with lots of differing views. But, at the end of the day, it's your cash and your decision!
A couple of 3.8 owners have moved across to the KW variant 2 option and the Eibach Bilstein setup is also highly rated but to be honest the EDC dampers are outstanding when they work. A major part of the 3.8 is the EDC, without it you lose some of the magic associated with a handbuilt seriously quick and unique sports saloon. The EDC rebuilds should be available soon they have been tested to destruction and seem to be up for the job.
Pop across to the m5board.com e34 section and read about the hard work being put in regarding replacements.
Pop across to the m5board.com e34 section and read about the hard work being put in regarding replacements.
Edited by belleair302 on Saturday 22 March 08:21
Edited by belleair302 on Saturday 22 March 08:34
Thanks guys, I'd seen the thread about the rebuilt EDC dampers, and its very cheering just to be able to put one over BMW who ought to be doing more for their classic owners. My thoughts are these:
Wait for rebuilt EDC dampers and hope they prove a good long term outcome, but keep risk that ECU for the suspension may one day go kaput or the SLS will cause problems.
Fit Bilsteins, Birds seem to be able to do the whole car for about £2k, and rate the dampers higher than EDC's for performance and ride. Also get the benefit of eliminating ECU/SLS/all the lines which corrode under the car and cost a fortune to refit. My car doesn't have the Nurburgring option. Only problem here is I don't know the performance of the system - certainly the EDC's on my first M5 were wife-friendly on body control and ride, if a little soft in direction changes. I quite like the idea of conventional shocks - seem future proof, but the car would be non-original. Anyone got experience of adjustable Bilsteins?
I'm in reasonably urgent need of a solution though as I can't lean on the front end at all at the mo.
Wait for rebuilt EDC dampers and hope they prove a good long term outcome, but keep risk that ECU for the suspension may one day go kaput or the SLS will cause problems.
Fit Bilsteins, Birds seem to be able to do the whole car for about £2k, and rate the dampers higher than EDC's for performance and ride. Also get the benefit of eliminating ECU/SLS/all the lines which corrode under the car and cost a fortune to refit. My car doesn't have the Nurburgring option. Only problem here is I don't know the performance of the system - certainly the EDC's on my first M5 were wife-friendly on body control and ride, if a little soft in direction changes. I quite like the idea of conventional shocks - seem future proof, but the car would be non-original. Anyone got experience of adjustable Bilsteins?
I'm in reasonably urgent need of a solution though as I can't lean on the front end at all at the mo.
Sounds like a good plan overall. I know what EDC can do when working well, and it is quite impressive, not to mention the only car never to make the wife feel sick. If the rebuilds come at a resonable price and soon then I'll give them a go. If not does anyone have any opinion on Birds?
I know a lot of guys on m5board rate EDC and reckon its part of the car, but the thought of spending all that money on a system that may not last two years is a triffle troubling. I dont mind spending £3k to put a problem out of sight and out of mind, but that isn't the case with EDC. The conventional shocks should provide 90-110% of the performance of EDC, yet cost 60% in the short term, while proving much more reliable in the longer term. I don't mind spending money on the M5 cos it really is my "lottery car", which, makes me a very lucky man, but EDC can feel like throwing good money after bad, which is a guilty thought with a daughter on the way. One of the rear shocks on my last car leaked in less than two years. Then, in 5-10 years, if EDC costs less not more, I may return to it. If not, i'm well established to upgrade to the latest Koni etc. Though I'd be interested to hear what people think of the ride on KW.... Or Ground Control, who look like they provide the entire strut for very resonable money.
I know a lot of guys on m5board rate EDC and reckon its part of the car, but the thought of spending all that money on a system that may not last two years is a triffle troubling. I dont mind spending £3k to put a problem out of sight and out of mind, but that isn't the case with EDC. The conventional shocks should provide 90-110% of the performance of EDC, yet cost 60% in the short term, while proving much more reliable in the longer term. I don't mind spending money on the M5 cos it really is my "lottery car", which, makes me a very lucky man, but EDC can feel like throwing good money after bad, which is a guilty thought with a daughter on the way. One of the rear shocks on my last car leaked in less than two years. Then, in 5-10 years, if EDC costs less not more, I may return to it. If not, i'm well established to upgrade to the latest Koni etc. Though I'd be interested to hear what people think of the ride on KW.... Or Ground Control, who look like they provide the entire strut for very resonable money.
In my opinion Birds are not good on E34's and few owners of these cars have a good word for them. Where are you based because there are some top race and engineering specialists aound London and the home counties.
EDC dampers should last somewhere between 50,000 - 80,000 miles and if they fail within 2 years will be replaces by BMW free of charge! The rebuilds should be ready within 4-6 weeks and will create quite a stir.
KW are used by a variety of BMW fans, they do offer a great solution to the EDC problem and do not cost the earth, but cannot replicate he EDC adjustment at the flick of a switch from the smooth P setting through to the raw S.
EDC dampers should last somewhere between 50,000 - 80,000 miles and if they fail within 2 years will be replaces by BMW free of charge! The rebuilds should be ready within 4-6 weeks and will create quite a stir.
KW are used by a variety of BMW fans, they do offer a great solution to the EDC problem and do not cost the earth, but cannot replicate he EDC adjustment at the flick of a switch from the smooth P setting through to the raw S.
The appeal of Birds was their facility to machine the struts to accept other dampers, avoiding replacement of the struts. BMW say the 3.6 struts will not fit the 3.8 car, and 540/535 items give diferent geometry.
When I had Nurburgring suspension I didn't often use the Sport mode as I feared the greater forces would shorten the fragile damper life even further!! Though it was nice to have the option.
If I go for KW do I need to buy new struts? I like their adjustability, to taylor a wife friendly ride!
When I had Nurburgring suspension I didn't often use the Sport mode as I feared the greater forces would shorten the fragile damper life even further!! Though it was nice to have the option.
If I go for KW do I need to buy new struts? I like their adjustability, to taylor a wife friendly ride!
On my e34 M5, I replaced my (non-switchable) EDCs with an AC Schnitzer kit, which was developed for the earlier 3.6 car. It required a pair of 3.6 front struts and hubs for the re-valved Bilstein inserts; the rears were re-valved SLS Boge units. It also lowered the front of the car about 10mm, as the kit included different front springs.
I have a feeling the kit has now been discontinued officially, but Chris Wadsley of BMWCC GB fame had a contact in Germany who could still get it. The overall cost was still high (approx £2K - much of which was 'conversion' cost) but was superior to the EDC setup IMO without the worry.
I drive an E36 M3 now. A full Bilstein Sprintline kit is an off the shelf purchase at less than £500....
I have a feeling the kit has now been discontinued officially, but Chris Wadsley of BMWCC GB fame had a contact in Germany who could still get it. The overall cost was still high (approx £2K - much of which was 'conversion' cost) but was superior to the EDC setup IMO without the worry.
I drive an E36 M3 now. A full Bilstein Sprintline kit is an off the shelf purchase at less than £500....
I have a spare set of used EDC's if anyone is interested. I replaced my knackered fronts with brand new ones and this complete set popped up for sale on the M5board a week later (great timing as usual). I bought them as spares for when mine went again but as I'm going to sell my M5 they will be surplus. They come with hubs too so easy replacment (mileage unknown but worked fine on the donor car).
Drop me a PM if interested.
Drop me a PM if interested.
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